The new kid is sitting only a couple of desks away from me. Of course, the 'popular girls' instantly swarm around him like a bunch of bees in a hive. I guess I can't blame them. He is quite cute, what with his sandy-brown hair combed neatly to one side in that typical 'fresh-cut' that seems to be the style for boys at the moment.

He blinks a few times at the girls surrounding him, and that's when I notice how long his eyelashes are. Seriously, it's a bit weird how his are longer than mine. Though it does sort of makes his soft, brown eyes pop. Unlike almost every other guy in the grade, his uniform looks ironed and clean, and his white shirt is actually tucked in. He fiddles slightly with his black tie as the 'Queen Bees' chatter away to him excitedly, oblivious to his obvious discomfort.

Emily - or as I like to call her, 'Queen of the Queen Bees' - twirls one slender finger around the end of her very long - and clearly straightened - black hair.

Great. I roll my eyes. Here we go again.

"So where'd you transfer from?" she asks, batting her long eyelashes flirtingly.

I hate Emily. I know I have no legitimate reason to hate her, but I do. She sickens me, and throwing herself at the first guy she meets is only one of the many reasons why I hate Emily Hills.

The boy opens his mouth to answer just as Mr Ling suddenly stands and walks around his desk stacked with assignments, tests, projects and God knows what else. I sort of feel sorry for him. I would hate to be a teacher, marking everyone's work. As if one assignment isn't enough.

"All right, settle down class!"

Everyone falls silent. Almost three full terms into grade twelve have taught us that if there's one teacher you shouldn't mess with, it's Mr Ling.

"I hope you've all brought your textbooks today because you'll be needing them very shortly." He turns towards the whiteboard and begins to write down some summary notes from our previous lesson.

The class quietly groans and we reluctantly take out our textbooks from our bags. Mr Ling pats down his grey-white hair and straightens his dark blue tie.

Earth science was probably the most boring subject I could have chosen. In fact, pretty much everyone in this class only picked it because it's known for being the easiest science. I don't know what on earth made New Boy choose this subject, though. He's the only guy in this class apart from Greg Jacobs - otherwise known as the school nerd. He does what we call, 'the suicide six'. The hardest six subjects in our school, which happens to include all the sciences.

I should've just dropped science; I find myself wishing for probably the thousandth time this year.

Mr Ling finishes writing on the board and turns towards us. He then begins his usual method of teaching by raving on and on about rocks and minerals... Or is it astronomy he's talking about? I'm not really listening to him anymore, even though I know I should be at least copying down his notes. Instead, I turn my attention back to the new kid, only to see the popular girls at it again, trying to make quiet conversation with him.

"Psst!"

I glimpse sideways at my best friend, Justine. "What?" I whisper.

"You should say hi to him!" she gives me a sly grin, her dark eyes twinkling.

"To who?" I cock my head sideways, feigning confusion.

She raises a perfectly plucked eyebrow at me. "You know who."

Justine is no supermodel, but she's gorgeous nonetheless and she knows it. Her long, dark brown hair is tied back perfectly into a high ponytail. She has that smile that a lot of boys seem to fall for, and she's had so many relationships in her life, I've lost count. She's not skinny, but she still manages to somehow pull off the kind of 'model-look' from Teen Vogue - even in her school uniform, which, trust me, is saying a lot - thanks to her tall height.

Of course saying hello to the male species is easy for Justine, but for me? Let's just say I don't get guy friends easily, let alone boyfriends.

"I have absolutely no idea who you're talking about," I say, staring at my closed textbook.

"Oh come on, you've been eyeing the new guy since he arrived!" she says a little louder, grinning suggestively at me.

"Shh!" I hiss. "That's not true. I don't like him. I don't even know his name."

"I'm surprised Mr Ling hasn't introduced him," Justine frowns.

"I'm not," I scoff.

Mr Ling is one of the most forgetful people alive. I mean, how is it that teachers are allowed to give us detention when we forget something, but when they do, it's perfectly alright?

I shake my head at the old man, who now begins pacing in front of the class while still rattling on about who knows what.

"Well, Audrey, you have good taste in guys. Who would've thought?" Justine playfully elbows me in the arm.

I glance back over at New Boy and watch him relax in his seat. The Queen Bees are actually taking notes, so it seems that for the time being, the boy could actually have a breather for a minute or two.

Justine, as usual, is right, I realise. I don't even know the guy's name, but there is something about him...

His eyes search the classroom slowly as if inspecting everyone until his gaze finally hovers over me. I feel my cheeks growing warm, so I look away.

Well, that was awkward.

I look across again and find him still staring at me, expressionless. Then he raises his eyebrows and smiles slightly. I don't know what to do, so I copy him. He raises one eyebrow at me now, so I do the same.

"Miss Litt, are you having a problem with your eyebrows?"

It takes me a while to understand it was Mr Ling who had spoken. The popular girls giggle and my cheeks grow hotter.

"No Sir," I mumble. "Sorry."

"Right. Mind explaining what I just said to the class?" he asks.

Luckily, before I have a chance to think up an excuse, New Boy interrupts.

"It's not her fault Sir. I distracted her."

I stare openly at him, wondering if I heard correctly.

"Ah, I see. You're the student who just transferred here, correct?" he continues without an answer. "Well I suppose you may be excused this once as you are new," he sighs deeply as if the very thought of having to deal with yet another student in his class pains him. "What is your name again sorry?"

For a moment, the boy just sits there, calmly observing the teacher.

"Mark," he says finally. Then he looks at me and grins. "My name is Mark."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

| Dedicated to thisrosewillneverdie |

She did a truly amazing and professional job on my cover, and I can't possibly take credit for that. Thank you Xx

I'm always open to suggestions, so please comment your thoughts or any constructive criticism, and vote if you like what you're reading! Trailer can be found above :)

EDITED ✔